Letters to the Editor for January 25, 2018

No religion in science classes

To the Editor:

Religion has its place but not in science classrooms. Grayson Mobley, a Bret High sophomore, last month asked the school district board to change its policy that prohibits discussion of religion in science classes.

He claims forbidding discussion of faith-based science violates his constitutional right to free speech. Grayson and his father, Troy Mobley, threatened to sue the district board if it does not change its policy.

Mobley had attended the Christian Family Learning Center from grade 1 to 8. Here he studied creationism, based on the literal biblical account that God created the heavens and the earth in six days, some 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Intelligent Design claims the universe is so complex it must have an intelligent designer. This is nothing more than thinly-veiled creationism.

Secular education is a system of public education in countries with a secular government. The U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment calls for separation of church and state, which allows freedom of religion and freedom from religion. It protects us from religion creeping through the back doors of school science classes.

Private Christian schools, like the one Grayson attended, are allowed to teach creationism, a faith-based pseudo science. Christianity is not the problem. Biblical principles, such as forgiveness, sharing with others, helping the poor, modesty, good manners, etc., are good things.

The problem with religion is that it encourages people to think irrationally. What else could make intelligent people believe in talking snakes, magic trees, turning water into wine, walking on water, or a man living in the belly of a great fish?